Lawrence police officer killed in one-vehicle accident at Sixth and Wakarusa

Matthew Edward Klock, 29, an officer with the Lawrence Police Department, died in a single-vehicle accident Jan. 2 in Lawrence.

An off-duty Lawrence police officer was killed in a single-vehicle accident early Wednesday morning in Lawrence.

Officer Matthew Edward Klock, 29, was killed when his vehicle hit a traffic signal pole near the intersection of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive around 2:15 a.m., according to a news release issued by the Kansas Highway Patrol, which is investigating the case.

According to the report, Klock’s 2012 Nissan Altima was heading east on Sixth Street when his vehicle went through the intersection at Wakarusa Drive, crossed the center line and struck a light pole in the center median of Sixth Street.

Klock — who was the only person in the vehicle and was dead at the scene — had been a member of the Lawrence department since 2007.

The report did not indicate whether alcohol could have been a factor in the accident. The report says he was not wearing a seat belt.